On Saturday, December 22, 2018, James Leonard Thomas passed away peacefully at the age of 82. He was a loving husband, brother, Dad, Papa, and friend.

James was born in Willow Springs, NC, to Sherwood and Edna Thomas, and was raised working on his family farm alongside his brother Billy and two sisters, Doris and Dorothy. On November 11, 1961, he married Lynda Rose Canon, and together they raised two children, Delina and Jay, in Fayetteville, NC.

He served in the U.S. Army, worked as a Parts Manager at Bryan Cadillac Honda for over 37 years, and was a self-taught handyman who believed any household problem could be fixed if you applied enough paint.

He loved spending time with his family, watching ACC basketball, and got a kick scaring his wife while driving at slightly-above-average speeds along I-85 (not in that order). He will be missed daily – for his unconditional kindness, sarcastic wit, and his willingness to fix your broken tail light at a moment's notice.

James' memory lives on in wife, son, brother, sister Dorothy, grandchildren – and several other loving relatives, and close friends.

To celebrate his life, a service will be held at Trinity Baptist Church, at 433 Southland Drive, Fayetteville, NC, on Saturday, December 29, 2018, at 2:00 P.M. The family will be accepting visitors prior to the service starting at 1 P.M.

In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to Shriners Hospital for Children or St. Jude Children's Research Hospital.

Arrangements by Jernigan-Warren Funeral Home.